3 Ex-NBAers Who Could Be Next In Line For Hardship Contracts

December 29, 2021 , ,

 



As teams continue to shuffle players in and out of the health and safety protocols, there have been more than 70 "hardship exception" contracts handed out to fill shorthanded rosters. Names like Isaiah Thomas, Joe Johnson, Lance Stephenson and Greg Monroe have found their way back into the NBA on 10-day deals. 

So who else is out there, deserving another shot in the Association? 

The list is potentially endless, but here are 3 players who could have "next":

Tyreke Evans

His two-year ban from the NBA has run its course, and this former Rookie of the Year wants back in. 

Some recent training video shows the 32-year-old looking in solid shape.

Evans could do it all, with career averages of 15.7 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.8 assists. He even shot the 3 at a 38% clip over the last four years of his career. 

JR Smith

The next two-sport athlete? JR Smith has been spending the last half-year as a student-athlete at North Carolina AT&T, playing on the golf team, and killing it in the classroom. 

He recently tweeted about his desire to get in on the hardship exception craze.

"So since we just giving out 10 days to see who wants to play. I’m still willing and want to play basketball. My phone number hasn’t changed," wrote Smith. 

He's 36 now, but we know that he's in.. golf shape at least.   

Jamal Crawford

He may be 41, but he's only two seasons removed from being a regular in the NBA. Crawford has career averages of nearly 15 points, 3.4 assists, and 35% shooting from behind the arc. He gets a lot of love around the league, and @JCrossover can probably still break some ankles with his handles.

One guy who's admittedly not ready for a comeback is Metta Sandiford-Artest:

The ex-Laker joked he might not be ready for a 10 day, but "I'm for sure ready for a 10 minute contract though." 

Two other players have already been pushing for a return with the Lakers. 

Photo Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports



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